Transforming Tirane

The capital of Albania is where its own stark contrasts become most obvious. There seems to be a huge difference amongst the people who live here, drawn clearly along generational lines. The older people who lived through the communist years are reserved and modest while the younger generations are embracing capitalism and western culture as fast as they can. Old women in black shawls walk arm in arm with 16 year olds in miniskirts and heals with mobile phones attached to one ear. Old men line park benches deep in conversation while young guys hang about in café’s sporting slicked hair and Italian fashion. The place is on a capitalism crash course and things are changing quickly.

Not only though, are they embracing the free market; they are also rediscovering religion. Being the only official atheist state during the twentieth century, the people are discovering (or reasserting their right to practise) organised religion. This means the country is fertile ground for missionaries, and it didn’t take long before we met a few. Its seems Catholicism is a current front runner, especially since the main cathedral recovered from its tenure as a volleyball court under the communist regime. Islam is also popular, helped along by the stunning central mosque, the only religious building in central Tirane that was spared by the Communists. It is truly eye-opening to see the conviction of the American missionaries out here, some as young as 21 years old.

After a few hours wandering around Tirana, where most things were shut due to it being a Sunday, we settled into to some huge leather seats at the Sheraton cinema for some relaxing down time. Seeing a movie is not usually on the Lonely Planet list of must do’s in a city but it can be a great way to spend a few hours. "The boat that rocked", while not quite doing the subject justice was a light-hearted look at pirate radio through the golden years of music. Its soundtrack, as you may expect, was fabulous.

Photos
1 - The National Museum (The communist star has been removed from the red flag in the mural)
2 - A local restaurant with a familiar logo.